Romancing the Dream

As the proliferation of online tea sites shows, and the rapidly growing number of increasingly educated members on Tea forums - the demand for quality oolong is increasing.

I don't know what the market statistics are showing but surely the cost of quality Oolong is likely to increase. Perhaps instead of promotiing our great discoveries we should be selfishly keeping them to ourselves.

A recent tea day topic concerned dreams, well I don't dream about tea - not at night whilst sleeping.

But sometimes whilst quietly mulling over my third infusion of an Anxi Ben Shan or a Yellow Leaf Dancong I do wonder IF ............

Taiwan seems far too developed in a 21st century sort of way, communication and marketing wise. Wuyi seems to be imitated to an excess and whether or not what is called Da Hong Pao is anything like the genuine article (whatever that is). But Fenghuang and Anxi County may just have possibilities.

.......... IF Only there is a master craftsman making tea just like his father and grandfather before him, but in a quiet backwater of a less fashionable village. Now this guy's tea is an elixir, but his neighbours make similar though not so good tea, and when the whole village's tea is purchased en masse, to bulk out a commercial blend, the elixir is diluted and lost to the world.

But then an opportunity occurs for the master artisan's tea to be made available in it's sublime unadulterated whole. The opportunity presents itself to me ......

Victoria wrote:Wow, that's a lot to buy untasted. I hope that you love all of them.

Some of them have been sitting on my shelves for several months. While I have been having fun with Wuyi and Fenghuang. The Mao Jie, Ben Shan and 7 Cups Anxi I had several months ago and am pleased to return to. I have not got round to TGY yet, so on my pre christmas online teaware shopping spree whenever I found a vendor who was selling tea and ware - If I wanted some ware I would throw in a TGY to make up the order!

Herb_master, based on your recent intake dose of dan cong, I guess it will be interesting to see what you find out about TGY. I've heard quite some people saying that after dan cong, all other teas are tasteless If that happens to you, you can always go back to green or black tea for a few days and take a break

The rich barbarian's prices are pretty good. Definitely let us know what you think about them!

Oh, just noticed that they use Hong Kong EMS. If that's EMS speed, the shipping cost is not high at all. How long does it take for you to receive their tea?

gingko wrote:Herb_master, based on your recent intake dose of dan cong, I guess it will be interesting to see what you find out about TGY. I've heard quite some people saying that after dan cong, all other teas are tasteless If that happens to you, you can always go back to green or black tea for a few days and take a break

The rich barbarian's prices are pretty good. Definitely let us know what you think about them!

Oh, just noticed that they use Hong Kong EMS. If that's EMS speed, the shipping cost is not high at all. How long does it take for you to receive their tea?

About 4 days - over the new year holiday - I heard the Postman's Knock and thought it must be something that I ordered from the US before Christmas - Not at all - something like ordered late at night on 29th or 30th December and arrived early in the morning on 2nd Jan.

Chip, you will be demise, I am already collecting enough....
....
....
I already have a large collection of Yixing teapots
a substantial haul of tiny cups, and faircups
an ever growing collection of Gaiwans
and 20 caddies and still growing [I just had to add the 2 Cranes that you alerted me to!]
I only have one Kyusu but if you keep posting pictures such as the Bizen Yohen
I would need several more

Herb_Master I am very interested in hearing how those TGY are. If they are even pretty decent I think I will have to order a couple tins I love how the tea comes in individual packages. How much tea is in each one of those little pouches?

Also, are they like most other tea vendors on ebay? Will they do business direct?

PolyhymnianMuse wrote:Herb_Master I am very interested in hearing how those TGY are. If they are even pretty decent I think I will have to order a couple tins I love how the tea comes in individual packages. How much tea is in each one of those little pouches?

Also, are they like most other tea vendors on ebay? Will they do business direct?

I did not enquire about direct custom, I am happy to let Ebay / Paypal act on my behalf.

They are however a Hong Based Tea Wholesaler, so may be open to direct business but I don't know what quantities they would deal in. On Ebay they sell in as small a sample as 5-7gm for $1.50. Off Ebay you may find they have a larger range of products.

Shippment

Shippment will be made within 24 hours after the payment(sometimes delayed,post office close for holiday) and takes about 7-15 days long with Hongkong EMS. Only ships to paypal verified address. Shippment could not be tracked on Hongkong post website,for i charges very low postage.(Actually if u want the shippment could be tracked with a track NO. ,contact me i will fix the postage fee for u.)

If you click on any Item in the Ebay listing to bring up the page for that item, you can scroll down to see differing info on the different items (though much is also duplicated)Photos of the leaf, and shop, certificates of authenticity etc.

The heading for Supreme and Supreme+ ??says Summer Tea?? but the detail on the comparison leaf ??says

Tea of 2007 and 2008(the left one is before 2007 ,right is 2008 new spring tea,what i am selling now.)

and

Tea of lower quality and higher quality(the left one is lower quality, right is higher one,what i am selling)

She also includes brewing notes

Tea should be made with boiling water of 95°C+, for Tie Guan Yin is half-Fermentation tea, not like green tea.

Drop the first water within 5 seconds, then steeped in a cup or glass with cover for about 15 second. Get the tea out for Enjoy.

Steep 8 times for A+ quality one, 5 for C+ quality.

Storage the tea in refrigerator to keep fresh.

It may be worthwhile asking her about that, possibly the ancilliary info on Ebay has not been updated since she was selling the Spring Tea.